Steam separator



Aug. 30, 1932. I c, HAwLEY I 1,874,990

STEAM SEPARATOR Filed July 30, 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

STATES CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, OF CHICAGO,

PATENT oFFicr;

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRIFIX COR- PORATION, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO STEAM SEPARATOR Application filed July 30,

The invention relates to improvements in steam separators of the kind installed within steam boilers. Such a separator is arranged at the steam outlet and functions to prevent the passage of water, being intended to ensure thedryness and cleanliness of the steam output of the boiler.

The water removed from the steam is hot; and, it is desirable that neither the water nor i0 its heat shall be wasted; in other words, it is desirable that the water separated from the outgoing steam shall be returned to the main body of water in the boiler. At that point much diificulty and uncertainty of per 5 formance is encountered, the tendency being to charge the steam with water instead of drying it. The explanation lies in the fact that the work which is done upon the passing steam entails a loss of pressure and the pres- 0 sure of steam resulting at the outlet is less than the pressure within the boiler. The lower pressure within the separator makes it likely that water will be drawn into the separator instead of being expelled from it.

When that happens the purpose of the separator is defeated.

The object of this invention is to provide within the boiler and'in connection with the separator a simple means which shall definitely cause and ensure the drainage of the separator and the return of the water to the boiler.

To such end this invention comprises a water-ejector which is attached to or combined with the steam separator, together with a duct or pipe which is coupled with said eject pipe. The pipe leads toward the ejector from a distant part of the steam space, and through it the ejector is supplied with steam of higher pressure than that immediately surrounding the ejector. The action of the ejector is thus made positive and certain. By means of this device the water is actively siphoned from the separator and all without resort to moving parts and all by means which are wholly located within the boiler.

The invention will be readily understood upon reference to the drawing that form part of this specification, and in which; Fig. 1 is 1930. Serial N0. 471,769.

a vertical longitudinal section of those parts of a locomotive boiler which are pertinent hereto, also showing the application of this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the dome portion of the boiler, with the dome cap removed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the dry pipe and bottom of the steam separator and detailing the ejector above mentioned; Figs. 4., 5 and 6 are still further enlargements, showing ejectors of three different types.

Referring to the drawing, 2 represents a steam separator of any known type, which is applied to the inner open end of the steam outlet, as here shown, the dry pipe 3. The separator occupies the dome 4 of the boiler 5 and is characterized by a water ejection drain 6 in its bottom. There may be several such drains. The part 7 represents an ejector which is applied to the water outlet 6. The

device shown in Fig. 1 and detailed in Figs. 3

and 5 will be seen to comprise the water nozzle 8 surrounded by the steam space 9 and merging with the expansion nozzle 9. Steam is supplied to the space 9 through a relatively large pipe 10 that leads rearwardly into the space 11 above the firebox 12. The end 10 of that pipe is open. Strictly speaking the pipe 6 leads from the rear end of the steam space to a union with the ejector or the separator.

The ejector shown in Fig. 4 is characterized by a water inlet opening 6a and a water chamber 8a. The pressure steam is admitted through the central nozzle 13 and the spaces 13 and 8a unite in the nozzle 9a.

The device of Fig. 6 resembles Fig. 4 but is contrived for direct incorporation in the base 2a of the steam purifier or separator. The corresponding parts are marked 66, 8b and 96.

When the boiler is in operation and steam is flowing through the separator and into the dry pipe or steam outlet, it is found that the steam pressure in the space directly beneath the dome 4 is less, by several pounds, than the pressure in the distant end of the steam space 11. Therefore, the pipe 10, through its open end 10, is supplied with steam of the higher pressure and that pipe, serving as a capacious conduit, delivers steam at the higher pressure to the ejector. The higher 4 pressure steam exhausts into the dome portion 7 of theboiler and its rapid outward movement across or parallel with the water delivery nozzle, Whatever its kind, reduces the pressure in the lower part of the steam separator; and in consequence adds to the efiiciency of the steam separator, whatever its kind, by ensuring the ejection of the water intercepted by V the separator. v 10 Having thus' described my invention I f claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 7' 1. A steam boiler of elongated form and: having a steam outlet, in combination with a steam separator positionedin the upper.

part thereof, at said steam outlet, an ejector incorporated with said separator; and forniingthe water drain thereof, and, a'pipe leadingfrom a remotesteam space in the boiler and serving said ejector. f

I steam boiler of elongated form and having asteam outlet in its upper part, in combination with a steam separatorposie tioned atlsaid outlet and comprising a-steam I 5 outlet proper, said separator having adrain leading downward and terminatingabove thev water level insaid boi1er,';an ejector incorporated with said drain, also, above said wa ter leve1,"and, a pipeleading from a remote steam space'i'n the boiler and joined to said ejector and hence adapted to supply said,

ejector with steam o t higher pressurethan that in the space immediatelycontaining said separator and drain.

my hand this 28th day of July,"1930.

1 111 testimony whereof I havehereunto set V v CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY. p 

